Thursday, May 31, 2007

THE BOOK HAS LEFT THE BUILDING...

It's been tough, this one. Nose to the grindstone stuff, and it's going to be that way all year if I'm going to fit in everything I'm contracted to do. But the purple shoe book was finally delivered to the waiting arms of my editor at around four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Since when I've been curled up in a huddled gibbering mass in the corner. (I really shouldn't have taken on the eHarlequin blog -- lesson learned. The books come first!)

I have to thank Ellie and Ben for holding the fort in my absence. I've just waved them off on their long promised trip to Italy (Laura is pet-sitting while they're away). Now it's time to introduce you to Sylvie and Tom, whose story has given me such a lot of bother in the last couple of months.

They've both come through some rough times, made successes of their lives, but are lacking that special ingredient that makes the world a bright and shiny place. Someone to share it with. Tom thought it had found exactly what he was looking for. When the book opens, it's all gone pear-shaped. His bride to be has taken to the hills with the wedding planner's assistant. And the wedding planner gets the full force of his ... irritation.

I don't have a title yet, but as soon as my editor has read the book, and I've ducked the flying revisions, I'll let you know what she comes up with. I can tell you that it will have a "Spring Wedding" or maybe "Spring Bride" flash -- so somewhere out there authors are battling with "Summer", "Autumn" and "Winter" -- and it'll be in the bookshops next April or May.

I should be able to put my feet up and take the day off -- you need time to wind down from a tight deadline -- but I have a journalist from the South West Evening Post arriving just after ten to ask me about "commitment" post the HEA, so I have to race around doing all the housework that's been neglected during the last week.

Then there are my accounts. And on Monday, I have to start actually writing The Sheikh novella. Not planning -- I don't have time to plan; there is no thinking time. I have to actually writing if I'm going to make the deadline for the next one. So, short of a visit from the plot fairy, if there's anyone out there who's ever asked me where I get my ideas from -- now would be a good time to remind me what I said.

Monday, May 28, 2007

CHATTING WITH BEN

Liz has still got her head down (it's a holiday today, don't writers ever take a day off?) getting things right for Sylvie and Tom, and since Ellie is cooking up a storm (you can take that literally) for her sister's birthday, I'm been nominated to come and keep you up to date with what's going on.

Apart from the book, Liz has been talking to Leighton Jones about Ellie and me over on Swansea Sound, her local radio station. He is her new hero, apparently. No soppy music, no breathy voice overs, just a great chat -- and he mentioned the name of the book three times without prompting. Sounds like a really nice bloke.

And this week she has a journalist coming from the South West Evening Post, ditto. Except she wants to talk about "commitment" after the HEA. Liz is muttering something about being "committed", but I suspect she has a totally different meaning in mind.

Liz's main news is that she apparently has two books out in Germany this month -- the aecond one arrived in the post as a complete surprise. For those of you who remember The Temp & the Tycoon (published until the title Strictly Business), this is Talie and Jude's story -- except he's now Jason. And you'll find it here.

Oh, and Chrissie Sue and Papaya are prize winners over at her guest blog at eHarlequin.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

SORRY...

I'm sorry if you've been visiting the blog and hoping to find some sparkling words of wisdom. I'm just a bit stretched at the moment. The book -- the one with the purple shoes that I had to suggest titles for this week, despite the fact that it's not finished -- Three Weddings and a Baby? -- is due instantly. And I've also been blogging over at eharlequin during May. In fact I've got a couple of competitions going over there, so you might want to check that out!

Meanwhile, I'm posting a first glimpse of my August US cover of Reunited: Marriage in a Million. I'll be blogging about that soon.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Hi everyone

Yes, it me again – Ellie – since Liz is still head down, battling with the final scenes of her latest book. Something unexpected came up that changed everything, as it does in books – believe me, this is something I know about first hand – which has meant going back and sorting out some stuff. She’s also blogging over at eHarlequin this month – she thought it was going to be for a week! – and so she’s asked me to tell you her news. Okay, here goes...

Remember this?

“...he caught her at the waist, lifting her, holding her to him as if she were the last woman on earth, while his mouth, hard, almost desperate, obliterated everything but the sensory seduction of his body; the silky sweep of his hair against her cheek, the touch of his fingers at her nape, the salty, dusty taste of his skin.

“And, finally, she understood the force that drove men and women to cross continents, conquer nations, give up their lives.”

It’s from THE SHEIKH’S GUARDED HEART and the really good news is that it’s on sale in Germany at the moment. There’s also a review and, possibly, an article Liz wrote on “The Sheikh” as hero for the German Loveletter Magazin. She’ll post it on her website at the end May when it’s updated, so that those of us who are a little rusty in German, can read it for ourselves.

The bad news -- and I’m in total agreement with Liz on this -- is the cover.

Gentle, reserved Lucy would never be seen dead in a dress like that. Liz was visiting with her recently when Han’s cousin Zahir was getting himself into a bit of bother – she’s going to be a real friend to Diana (THE SHEIKH’S UNSUITABLE BRIDE) – and believe me, she was not amused! Of course Han didn’t appear in a tux, either. But a tux is such a universally gorgeous item of clothing that it doesn’t matter. That dress, however, is something else...

Saturday, May 12, 2007

THE GROOMS ARE BACK!

Theo, Dom (yes, we can call him Dom now than Alice has soothed the savage beast) and Max are all back from their honeymoons (some with more baggage than others!), and they had so much fun messing with our blogs last time that they want to do it again.

Over on Anne McAllister's blog, they've drummed up a new competition. Three simple questions, for three fabulous books.

This is just a single hander (Kate is busy organising celebrations for her 50th M&B and I have the purple shoe book to deliver), so just send your answers to Anne and she'll tell us who to send the books to. (I'm offering a copy of Ellie's book, or something from my backlist if -- bless you -- you've already bought THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA.)

Sunday, May 06, 2007

NEW COVERS

Hi, it’s Ellie here again. Liz is totally up to her eyes with a looming deadline – and she’s blogging over at eHarlquin.com, too, about writing my story, so she’s asked me to drop by and tell you about the lovely new look that Mills & Boon series titles are getting in the UK and Australia this June. Just so you’ll know what to look out for, here’s a preview.

This is my very own Australian cover (that is so cool!) on sale down under in June – or now on the internet; there’s a link on the sidebar.

And this is Ally Blake’s totally gorgeous June UK cover for BILLIONAIRE ON HER DOORSTEP.

Oh, and Liz says if any of you want the recipe that I very nearly messed up, then drop her an email with RECIPE in the subject line and she’ll send it to you. The way she makes it, it’s fabulous, I promise you.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

THE SECRETS OF WRITING ROMCOM, POSSIBLY...

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm blogging over at eHarlequin this month on the secrets of writing romcom, although any and all kinds of secrets are grist to the mill. But we'll start with Lady Gabriella and see where it takes us.